Yet Another Law Firm Employee Is Accused in Claimed Embezzlement

Upping the ante in a rash of admitted or alleged embezzlements by law firm administrators recently, a former bookkeeper has been accused of stealing $150,000 from a Virginia Beach legal partnership.

Norma Blackwell, 47, has been charged with mail fraud in federal court in Norfolk, Va., concerning the checks to herself and her husband that she allegedly tricked an executive of Shuttleworth Ruloff Giordano & Swain into signing, reports the Virginian-Pilot.

When she sought the executive’s signature, Blackwell “presented checks for signing at busy times to lessen the risk of discovery of her fraud,” a court filing alleges. She is also accused of making unauthorized wire transfers from the firm to her husband’s account and to her creditors.

Blackwell worked for the firm, which is now known as Shuttleworth Ruloff Swain, Haddad & Morecock, from 2004 to 2007.

The article doesn’t include any comment from Blackwell, who now lives in Florida, and says a firm partner declined to comment.